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I'm a writer, living in Bristol in the UK. I've had a handful of short stories published but I'm still working on that Holy Grail for fiction writers- securing a literary agent. So, if you're an agent or have an Auntie, Uncle, second cousin, best friend who is one...

Exploring fictional worlds in a flash

Friday Fictioneers: Miss Bucher’s legacy

The instrument once belonged to his tutor, Miss Bucher, the woman who had convinced him he could be a classical pianist. The plan had been to restore it, but moth grubs had eaten the felt and woodworm was turning the frame to powder.

Alexandre’s wife Sofia stood beside him, huddling under her umbrella. ‘I have an idea,’ she said.

Four months later, geraniums shone scarlet from the frame, purple campanula and lobelia tumbled over the keyboard, blooming just as Alexandre had thanks to Miss Bucher.

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Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the photo to become inspired and write a tale of your own. See here to join in.

How lovely that the piano lives on as a blooming memorial to Miss Bucher. I admire the way you always look for the precise word; in this story, for example, Sofia is ‘huddling’ under her umbrella; not ‘standing’ not ‘sheltering’, but ‘huddling’, which evokes such a clear image of her.

Ah, thank you for your insightful reading and comment. You’re right, I did pick that word very specifically and it was originally ‘standing’. But ‘huddling’ is so much more descriptive, isn’t it, and when you only have 100 words, picking the right one counts! Thank you so much Penny